Case sealed by a cover, a process for the manufacture of a case covered by a foil and equipment for executing the process

ABSTRACT

A container for pharmaceutical or cosmetic products comprises a case having an open end defined by an upper rim; a foil secured to the case and covering the open end, the foil being stretched taut over the open end to provide a substantially flat surface; and a cover having a stamping insert screwed onto the case. The stamping insert includes a stretching ring which stretches the foil taut when the cover is screwed into the case. A locating apparatus for centering a case with respect to a sealing tool is provided to expedite fastening of the foil to the case. The locating apparatus includes a slider on which the case is positioned, and two stops which contact each other when the case is located in a centered position. A switch is activated when the case is in centered position to operate the sealing tool and fasten the foil to the case.

United States Patent [191 Wyler et a1.

1 1 CASE SEALED BY A COVER, A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A CASECOVERED BY A FOIL AND EQUIPMENT FOR EXECUTING THE PROCESS [75]Inventors: Eugen Wyler, Kusnach; Max Buser,

Zurich, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Lovida AG. Oberwil, near Zug.

Switzerland 221 Filed: July 23, 1973 21 Appl.No.:360,450

[4 1 Aug. 19, 1975 Primary E.\II)1ill)-DOH11C1 E. Watkins Allurney,Agent, or Firm-Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow and Garrett [57] ABSTRACT Acontainer for pharmaceutical or cosmetic products comprises a casehaving an open end defined by an upper rim; a foil secured to the caseand covering the open end. the foil being stretched taut over the openend to provide a substantially flat surface; and a cover having astamping insert screwed onto the case.

The stamping insert includes a stretching ring which stretches the foiltaut when the cover is screwed into the case. I

A locating apparatus for centering a case with respect to a sealing toolis provided to expedite fastening of the foil to the casev The locatingapparatus includes a slider on which the case is positioned, and twostops which contact each other when the case is located in a centeredposition. A switch is activated when the case is in centered position tooperate the sealing tool and fasten the foil to the case.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures CASE SEALED BY A COVER, A PROCESS FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF A CASE COVERED BY A FOIL AND EQUIPMENT FOR EXECUTING THEPROCESS The invention relates to a case for cosmetic or pharmaceuticalproducts, to a process for manufacturing a filled case having a foil anda cover, and apparatus for carrying out the process.

It is the fashion of the times when selling personal wares such ascosmetic or pharmaceutical goods to seal the goods in such a manner asto draw the attention of the buyer if the ware comes into his possessionpreviously touched. The present invention solves this problem bycovering the case of the invention with a foil.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a container forpharmaceutical or cosmetic products comprising a case having an open enddefined by an upper rim, a foil fastened to the case and covering theopen end, the foil being stretched taut and smooth over the open end toprovide a substantially flat surface, and a cover screwed onto the caseand having a stamping in sert which depresses the foil below the rim intaut condition. The foil acts as a seal to indicate that the contents ofthe container have not been touched or used. If the foil is damaged orremoved, the buyer is informed that the contents have been touched.

The present invention also provides a process for closing the open endof a filled case having a rim comprising fastening the foil to the rimof the case, and screwing a cover having a stamping insert onto the caseto stretch and smooth the foil onto the case.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for closing the openend ofa filled case comprising a slider on which the case is seated; afirst adjustable stop to set the position of the case in the seat, asecond stop movable against said first stop for keeping the case inplace between the two stops. a vertically movable sealing head forfastening the foil on the case. and a switch which can be activated bythe slider when the case is clamped between the two stops and operatethe sealing head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The accompanying drawingsillustrate an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention and,together with the description. serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. I of the drawings is a perspective view. partially in section,showing a case in the filled state and with a wrinkled foil mounted atthe edge of the case;

FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of the case cover for theembodiment of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of a stamped insert which is slidinto the cover;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an apparatus for centering and locating a filledcase as in FIG. I underneath a sealinghead in order to deposit andfasten the foil on the case edge;

FIG. 5 is a section through the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken along lines55; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 4 with parts removed.

FIGS. 7a. 7b. and 7( show respectively enlarged views of area 7-7 ofFIG. 3. illustrating a shaped. U-shaped. and rounded cross-section ofthe stretching and sealing ring.

FIG. 8 shows a partial sectional view of a stamped insert which is slidinto the cover having a plurality of stamping rings.

FIG. 9 shows a partial sectional view of a stamping insert which is slidinto the cover having a stamping bulge.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a case I providedwith an outer thread 2 at its upper end and an upper sealing edge or rim4. A foil 6 is seated on upper sealing edge 4. Foil 6 may be a laminatedaluminum foil, that is. one coated with a synthetic material and isprovided with a tear-off flap 7. When the aluminum foil is in a slack orunstretched state, the foil 6 has an aged, wrinkled look as shown by itscross-section 8 in FIG. 1. After the foil is stretched, as explained ingreater detail below, the surface of foil 6 will be smooth, as shown byits cross-section 10. In contrast to the unstretched foil, the stretchedfoil is provided with a stamping offset 11.

A cover 22, shown in FIG. 2, has an internally threaded side 23. Astamping and sealing insert 13 (FIG. 3) is positioned in cover 22.Insert 13 is provided with a deposition disk 15 which rests upon theinside cover surface. and also with an outer holdingedge 16 forcentering and holding insert I3 in cover 22. The insert I3 is furtherprovided with a support rim 18 to be laid on upper sealing rim 4 of caseI. Support rim I8 is provided with a contiguous compression ring 19 anda flat inner surface 20 recessed from ring I9. Compression ring 19 actsas a stretching and sealing ring.

In operation, case I is filled with the appropriate product. and then afoil 6 is laid on upper rim 4 so as to cover it. Subsequently. foil 6 isfastened to the upper rim 4 of the case by changing its shape(deformation) or by gluing or by hot sealing. The inside section of foil6 covering the open end of the filled case now exhibits a cross-section8 with interfering folds. Cover 22 is now screwed on case I and stampingand sealing insert 13 in cover 22 presses against foil 6 by means of itscompression ring I9. During further screwing of cover 22, the outer rimfollows the stamping setoff I1 and stretches foil 6 into the case Iuntil foil 6 is stretched flat and completely smooth. Foil 6 is nowcompletely formed or shaped with respect to upper rim 4 and covers theopening of case I. If now the user removes cover 22 from case I, he willobserve that it is sealed by a neatly taut foil 6 and that the contentshave re mained untouched. The packing is intact and the con-- tents areuntouched. Following removal of foil 6, stamping insert I3 is used as aseal.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show an apparatus for quickly, easily and manuallycentering cases to be sealed or covered opposite a sealing tool. Thisapparatus comprises a housing 26 having a front clearance 28 and a backclearance 30. Lateral guiding bars 32 guide a slider 42, and lateralguiding bars 34 spaced from the bars 32 guide a rear stop 35 which,depending on the size case 1 or of its diameter. will be positioned onbars 32. A movable carriage 36 with a micro-switch 37 is located in theback clearance 30. Carriage 36 may be shifted and fastened at a fixeddistance with respect to a stop 38. as shown. The rear stop 35 isprovided with two lateral slots 39 from which extend bolts 40 providingguidance along bars 32. Stop 35 may be fastened by means of nuts notshown. Slider 42 has a base 43 for seating case I and a handle 44. Stop38, which serves as a motion-limiter for slider 42 and simultaneously asan actuator for switch 37, is mounted to the bottom of base 43 of slider42. Slider 42 has guiding bolts 46 and carries a front stop 45 which hasguiding slots 47. Guiding slots 47 receive guiding bolts 46 and frontstop 45 is movably mounted on guiding bolts 46 on slider 42. Helicalsprings 51 in boreholes 49 of the front stop 45 and in boreholes 50 inslider 42 press the front stop 45 into its rear terminal position.

A centering index mark 53 is located laterally, corresponding to thecenter of the seal head during hot sealing or gluing by the sealing headwhen deforming the foil. Marks are furthermore located at the guidingbars 32, for the sizes of cases 1, by means of which the rear stop 35may be shifted and also be fastened by means of stop-nuts 40.

The equipment operates as follows: After the case 1 is filled, it willarrive at base 43 of slider 42. Rear stop 35 already has been setaccording to case size. The sealing, gluing or forming devices are alsoset according to case size. Slider 42 then is pushed with case 1 on itso that case 1 is moved and forced against rear stop 35. Slider 42 willbe pushed further until it contacts front stop 45 by which means it willbe centered, that is, placed precisely underneath the sealing head. Thefur ther motion of slider 42 compresses springs 51 so that by theircompression, front stop 45 will be pressed against the case which thenwill be solidly held between the two stops 35 and 42. During this motionof slider 42, the corresponding surface of stop 38 reaches the sensor ofswitch 37 and depresses it against the switchhousing to close thecircuit to the sealing stamp. Upon closing the circuit. the sealingstamp is lowered on foil 6 lying on upper rim 4 of case 1 and connectsthe foil to the case. One can also use a die or a compression headinstead of a sealing stamp for adhering the foil to the rim ofcontainer 1. The return stroke of the sealing stamp occurs after sealingor fastening of the foil 6 to case 1 in automatic fashion and withoutfurther motion of the slider. The slider is then withdrawn and theapparatus is ready to receive the next case which will be subjected tothe same process.

The equipment described is of extremely simple design and allows rapidprocessing for manual labor where there are small production runs.Obviously, automatic filling and sealing or foil-closing stations mustbe provided, such as are well known is design in practice, if productionis large.

One may also seal the case with pre-stamped foils. Pre-stamping mayoccur by means of radial corrugation or by means of anothercross-sectional shape or relief.

The stamping or compression ring may be in the shape of a V, or of an Uor rounded as illustrated respectively in FIGS. 7a, 7b and 70. One mayalso make use of several stamping rings, 19 for instance. concentricallyarranged stamping rings shown in FIG. 8. Also, the foils may be providedwith tear-flaps. A stamping bulge 21 as shown in FIG. 9 may project atthe stamping center if this method is used.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificdetails shown and described and departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the principles of the invention and withoutsacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A container for cosmetic or pharmaceutical products comprising a casehaving an open end, defined by an upper rim, a foil fastened to the caseand covering the open end; the foil stretched taut and smooth over theopen end; and a cover secured to the case over the foil, the coverhaving a stamping insert which substantially depresses the foil belowthe rim in taut condition throughout the circumference of said case openend.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the stamping insertprojects inside the case upon complete sealing of the cover to the caseto smooth the foil by deep-pressing.

3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the stamping insert isprovided with an embossed surface which will imprint into the foil.

4. The container according to claim 1 wherein the stamping insertincludes a stretching and sealing ring.

5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching and sealingring has a V-shaped crosssection.

6. The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching and sealingring comprises a plurality of concentric rings.

7. The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching and sealingring has a central stamping bulge.

8. The container according to claim 1 wherein the foil is pre-stampedwith an embossed design.

9.'The container according to claim 1 wherein the stamping insertincludes an outer holding-edge for centering and holding the insert inthe cover and a support rim which rests on the upper rim of the case.

10. The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching andsealing ring has a U-shaped crosssection.

ll. The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching andsealing ring has a round cross-section.

=l l l

1. A container for cosmetic or pharmaceutical products comprising a casehaving an open end, defined by an upper rim, a foil fastened to the caseand covering the open end; the foil stretched taut and smooth over theopen end; and a cover secured to the case over the foil, the coverhaving a stamping insert which substantially depresses the foil belowthe rim in taut condItion throughout the circumference of said case openend.
 2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the stamping insertprojects inside the case upon complete sealing of the cover to the caseto smooth the foil by deep-pressing.
 3. The container according to claim1 wherein the stamping insert is provided with an embossed surface whichwill imprint into the foil.
 4. The container according to claim 1wherein the stamping insert includes a stretching and sealing ring. 5.The container according to claim 4 wherein the stretching and sealingring has a V-shaped cross-section.
 6. The container according to claim 4wherein the stretching and sealing ring comprises a plurality ofconcentric rings.
 7. The container according to claim 4 wherein thestretching and sealing ring has a central stamping bulge.
 8. Thecontainer according to claim 1 wherein the foil is pre-stamped with anembossed design.
 9. The container according to claim 1 wherein thestamping insert includes an outer holding-edge for centering and holdingthe insert in the cover and a support rim which rests on the upper rimof the case.
 10. The container according to claim 4 wherein thestretching and sealing ring has a U-shaped cross-section.
 11. Thecontainer according to claim 4 wherein the stretching and sealing ringhas a round cross-section.